"Raise security, I want to know what's going on." Saben ordered over his shoulder then returned his attention back to the computer console where he was working with his science officer.
"How about a self destruct using this access way?" He asked.
"That isolinear system looks fried sir, we would have to actually get into the Jeffries tube here." He pointed to a Jeffries tube several decks down. "And directly access the explosive controls from there."
"Doors sealed sir." One of his men reported as he finished fusing the turbolift doors together with his phaser.
"How long until the hard reboot is done?"
"Still need three more minutes. The ion charge was more powerful than anything we have encountered, even our hardened systems were overwhelmed. We're lucky the core wasn't completely fried.
"Sir, we have unauthorized access in the turbolift." His tactical officer reported.
"Everyone, check your weapons." Saben ordered. He stood away, knowing that trying to get to the Jeffries tube was near impossible at this point. The internal sensors were out but judging by reports trickling in, the enemy was everywhere.
"Engineering, Can you force a warp core breach? We need to destroy the ship ASAP." He asked.
The sounds that came in on the communicator were a chaos of explosions and shouts of surprise and anger. The line went dead. Saben stood silent for a moment. Then he heard the sound of heavy equipment moving in the turbolift.
"Initiate a complete core dump. I want every scrap of data gone."
His science officer frowned.
"Sir, with the core in hard reboot, we can't do anything."
Saben shook his head, biting back a curse. Suddenly the turbolift doors exploded outward knocking him over the railing of his bridge. Several of the bridge officers fired into the gaping hole that remained of the turbolift. Three troopers ran in and fired. White rings flashed by, whenever they struck a person, the target crumpled to the floor unconscious.
One of the troopers was struck by a phaser, knocking him back into the turbolift but more flooded in simply firing continuously, the stun bolts taking down the rest of his men. Saben stood up and stared at the enemy troops. They swiveled their blasters in his direction but he did not raise his weapon.
A woman leaped in followed by another phalanx of troops. She looked around the bridge and nodded to one of the lead troopers.
"Good work, commander. Secure this bridge and coordinate with hangar control to get technicians onboard as soon as possible. My men are telling me that their reactor core seems to be in some form of meltdown."
"Yes ma'am."
"This is an act of aggression against the United Federation of Planets. What is the meaning of this attack?!" Saben protested.
Mara slowly walked down into the lower level of the bridge. She examined the young captain with a critical eye. Saben returned the gaze steadily. He ignored the moans of some of his wounded men as the troopers roughly pulled them up and started to line them up along the far side of the bridge under the main viewer.
"Captain, you and your starship are now under the custody of the Empire. We do not explain ourselves, we do not answer the questions of prisoners of the Empire. We simply take what we wish. You will be a guest of Darth Marek. He is most eager to meet you." She smiled coldly.
Saben felt a cold grip around his heart. He found himself wondering if at least Jim got away.